Chief of Staff cover art

Chief of Staff

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Chief of Staff

By: Gavin Barwell
Narrated by: Gavin Barwell
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £16.17

Buy Now for £16.17

About this listen

Once a more sedate affair, since 2016, British politics has witnessed a barrage of crises, resignations and general elections. As Brexit became logjammed, Theresa May's premiership was the most turbulent of all. In her darkest hour, following the disastrous 2017 election, she turned to Gavin Barwell to restore her battered authority. He would become her chief of staff for the next two years - a period punctuated by strained negotiations, domestic tragedy and intense political drama.

In this gripping insider memoir, Barwell reveals what really went on in the corridors of power - and sheds a vital light on May, the most inscrutable of modern prime ministers. He was by her side when she negotiated her Brexit deal, met Donald Trump, heard about the poisoning of the Skripals in Salisbury, responded to the Grenfell Tower fire, met Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer to broker a cross-party Brexit agreement - and ultimately made the decision to stand down as prime minister. Revealing how government operates during times of crisis, this will become the definitive record of a momentous episode in Britain's recent political history.

©2021 Gavin Barwell (P)2021 W. F. Howes Ltd Europe Great Britain Political Science Politics & Government World England Thought-Provoking Government
All stars
Most relevant
Great look into Theresa May's time in No 10 and an important time in British history after Brexit. Gavin helps give a clear understanding into why the decisions were made and draws back the curtains to show what Theresa May was liked. A picture of person she sadly failed to show the public, a PM interested in public service and doing things for the greater good. Instead of what is happening now , a PM just focused on their own inflated ego to the detriment of the country.

one of the best political books this year

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Absorbing account of how to not solve the impossible.
Superbly written factual account. You are left breathless at the sheer stupidity of the whole Brexit fiasco.

Really well written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Certainly an interesting listen. Gavin is clear in his pitch and open about his experience.

Interesting insight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The book is highly interesting and offers great insights into the May government. Not sure I fully agree with all the assessments of the political situation.

Great insights jnto May government

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I throughly enjoyed listening to the author’s account of his service to former Prime Minister Theresa May and her time in office during the BREXIT negotiations .

BREXIT POLITICS ; WHO AND WHAT TO BELIEVE

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews